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VI 


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FROM   THE  LIBRARY  OF 


REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,  D.  D. 


BEQUEATHED   BY   HIM  TO 

THE   LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


Sa^("~ **"    ^»    !■  ■ 


J     ,»-         "- 


>£  t  ?IBfP' 


#V: 


LETTER 


TO 


Thofe  of  his  Brethren 

In  the 

M    I    N    I    S    T   R    T 

Who  refufe  to  admit 

The  Rev.  Mr.  White  field 

Into  their  Pulpits. 

By  William  'Shurtleff,  M.  A. 

And  Paftor  of  the  fecond  Church  in  Port/mouth  in  Nav-Hampjbirt, 

— — ,  p  ■»' 

With  an  Appendix  containing  the  Concurrence  of  fame  other 

Minijlers. 

BOSTON: 

Printed  and  Sold  by  Samuel  Kneeland  and  Timothy  Green 
in  Queen-Street.     1745, 


6 


isirfadiS  i 


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i 


(     3     ) 


jsugjfi  $d<m  &«^  u  $S& 


s  Letter,  8cc. 


Reverend  and  Beloved. 

RAVING  many  of  you  feen  fit  to  publifh  your  Deter- 
mination of  not  admitting  the  Rev.  Mr.  IVhitefisld  into 
your  Pulpits,  and  more  than  implicitly  ceniur'd  your 
Brethren  who  have  conducted  themfelves  towards  him 
in  a  different  Manner :  It  can't  be  juft  Matter  of 
Offence,  that  one  of  them  takes  the  Liberty  of  addref- 
fing  you  in  this  public  Way  •,  efpecially  feeing  you  are  fome  of  you 
grown  fo  my,  and  become  fuch  Strangers  of  late,  that  he  is  depriv'd 
of  tfie  Opportunity  he  has  fometimes  wifh'd  for  of  privately  confer- 
ring with  you  upon  the  foregoing  Head. 

That  fo  many  are  turn'd  afide  to  vain  Jangling^  I  think  calls  for 
Lamentation,  and  if  I  know  my  felf,  lam  a  hearty  Mourner  for  that 
Spirit  of  Difcord  that  is  gone  forth,  and  fo  far  prevails  among  Mini- 
fiers  as  well  as  private  Chriftians.  If  what  I  am  now  writing  mould 
have  any  Tendency  to  increale  it,  and  be  a  Means  of  further  alienat- 
ing your  Affections,  I  fhall  be  very  forry  :  Tho'  let  what  will  be  the 
Event,  it  will  be  fome  Support  to  me,  that  lam  adled  by  right  Views. 
And  as  I  find  my  felf  in  the  Exercife  of  brotherly  Love,  I  mail  en- 
deavour to  preferve  that  Gentlenefs  and  Meeknefs  that  lb  peculiarly 
becomes  our  high  and  heavenly  Profeliion. 

To  come  then  to  the  Matter  in  Hand  ;  in  refufing  Mr.  Whitcfidd 
the  Liberty  of  your  Pulpits,  you  go  upon  this  Suppojition^  that  he  has 
been  already  the  Inftrument  of  much  Mifchief  to  the  Churches  of 

Christ 


C     4     ) 

Christ  in  this  Land,  and  that  there  is  a  Profpeft  of  yet  more  Mif- 
chief,  mould  he  be  indulg'd  theLibcrty  of  preaching  to  the  People 
of  your  Charge. 

I.     You  fuppofe,  and  many  of  you  exprefly  fay,  '  That  Mr.  White- 

*  field  by  his  former  preaching  among  us,  has  been  the  Occafion  of 

*  much  Mifchief  to  the  Churches  of  this  Land. 

You  allow  that  there  is  a  confiderable  Alteration  in  the  State  of 
Religion  in  thefe  Churches  now,  from  what  it  was  fome  Years  ago, 
and  that  Mr.  Whitefield  has  been  one  great  Inftrument  of  it,  and  fo 
far  we  are  agreed.     But  then  you  affirm,  '  That  this  Alteration  that 

*  there  is  in  the  State  of  Religion  is  for  the  worfe,  and  that  he  is  to 
4  be  Jook'd  upon  as  the  blameable  Caufe  ©f  all  the  Diforders  that  have 

*  arifen  among  us.*     And  herein  1  am  obliged  to  differ  from  you. 

[i.]  I  can  by  noMeans  allow  that  theStaleof  Religion  in  theChurches 
of  this  Land  is  really  alter'd  for  the  worfe  within  thefe  four  or  five 
Years  part  :  and  that  you  and  I  may  form  a  right  Judgment  of  the 
Matter,  let  us  view  it,  as  it  was  before  that  Time,  and  as  it  has  been 
fince. 

i.   Let  us  look  a  little  back,  and  take  a  View  of  the- State  of 
ligion  as  it  was  in  thefe  Churches  five  Tears  ago,  and  for  fome  2 
before. 

An  affecting  Spectacle  I  confefs!  what  n6  ferioiis'Chriflfian  c6ul& 
behold  in  theTime  of  it,  without  a  heavy  Heart,  and  fcarce  without 
a  w<  eping  Eye.  To  fee  that  folid  and  fubftantial  Piety  for  which  our 
Anceitors  were  fo  juftly  renowned,  having  long  languifh'd  under  fore 
Decays,  brought  fo  very  low,  and  feemingly  juft  ready  to  expire  and 
give  up  the  Ghoft. 

How  did  not  only  Pelagianifm,  but  Arianifm,  Socinianifm,  and  even 
Deifm  itfelf,  and  what  is  falfely  call'd  by  the  Name  of  Free-thinking, 
here  and  there  prevail  ?  How  much  was  it  grown  into  Fafhion  to 
throw  off  all  Manner  of  Regard  to  nrrict  and  ferrous  Godlinefs  ?  How 
many  feem'd  afliam'd  of  the  Drefs  ?  and  of  thofe  that  wore  the  Garb, 
and  kept  up  the  Form,  what  Numbers  were  there  that  were  content 
with  this,  and  had  but  little  elfe  ?  The  inftituted  Means  of  Salva- 
tion, it's  evident  in  many  Places,  were  but  lightly  efteem'd,  and  a 
horrid  Contempt  was  put  upon  the  Miniftry  of  the  IVordi  When 
there  was  no  more  than  a  Monthly  Lcffure  even  in  a  large  Parifii,  what 


(     5    ) 

a  fmall  Handful  fliould  we  find  attending  upon  it  ?  Indeed  upon  the 
LorcTs-Dayy  when  the  Seafon  was  inviting,  and  there  was  nothing  in 
the  Way,  there  would  (it  may  be)  be  what  fome  call  a  handfome  Ap- 
pearance :  That  is,  there  would  be  a  Number  of  Perfons  of  both 
Sexes,  efpecially  in  fome  Congregations,  richly  and  curioufly  drefs'd% 
and  making  as  fine  and  glittering  a  Shew  as  if  this  was  the  Thing  they 
chiefly  aim'd  at  •,  which,  with  fome  might  poffibly  be  what  they  had 
principally  in  View.  Accordingly  how  remote  were  they  for  the 
moil  Part  from  that  Serioufnefs  and  Solemnity  that  became  the  Place 
where  they  were,  and  the  Bufinefs  they  were  about  ?  How  little  did 
they  behave  as  thofe  that  came  to  converfe  with  an  infinitely  holy 
and  glorious  GOD  •,  and  to  fecure  the  Salvation  of  a  Soul,  which, 
tho'  immortal,  and  of  more  Worth  than  the  whole  World,  was  in 
Danger  of  being  loft  for  ever  ?  Even  whilft  the  Word  of  God  was 
difpenfed,  how  many  Eyes,  if  they  were  not  {lumbering,  would  he 
wandering  and  gazing  ?  And  how  little  Keed  did  the  Generality 
give  to  the  Things  that  they  heard  ?  What  Numbers  were  there, 
who  having  after  a  Sort  attended  on  the  Sermon,  and  fo  perform'd 
their  Tafk,  went  away  fatisfied  as  if  there  was  nothing  further  re- 
quired ?  How  feldom  was  it  that  the  Word  made  any  abiding  Im- 
.  fnons  on  the  Hearers?  And  fometimes  it  may  be  it  was  but 
poorly  adapted  to  this  Purpofe. 

We  who  took  upon  us  to  be  Majtersof  AjJembUes,  upon  Reflection 
may  find  Occafion  to  charge  our  felves  with  being  too  dull  and  I 
fih,  carelefs  and  negligent  in  our  public  Miniftranoris.  I  would  nor 
be  underftood  to  infinuate  that  this  was  univerfa'ly  the  Cafe.  There 
were  doubtlefs  Exceptions  to  the  contrary.  But  what  I  intend  is,  mat 
it  was  too  commonly  fo,  or  at  leaft  that  theie  were  too  many  mourn- 
ful Inftances  of  it.  It's  well  if  we  were  none  of  us  among  thofe  tl.a: 
corrupt  the  Word.  But  if  we  were  not  Teachers  of  Dcclrines  that  are 
grofly  and  notcrioufiy  falfe  •,  are  there  not  fome  "weighty  Points,  fuch 
as  that  of  Original  Sin,  Regeneration  and  Convcrfun,  Jujlif.cation  by 
Faith  only,  &:c.  that  have  not  been  fo  fully  and  throughly  handled,  lo 
clearly  explained,  and  fo  flrongly  prefTed  as  they  might,  and  ought  to 
have  been  ?  By  which  Means  too  many  of  our  People  have  had  but 
very  confufed  and  indifferent  Notions  of  them  ;  and  if  they  have 
own'd  them  as  Truths,  have  not  had  a  juft  Senfe  of  the  Importance 
of  them.     And  tho'  we  faw  but  li trie  Fruit  of  our  Labours  in   thofe 

B  Ti 


(     6     ) 

Times  I  am  fpeaking  of,  how  many  Ways  did  we  find  to  fatisfy  our 
felves,  and  how  eafy  were  we  in  our  want  of  Succefs  ?  Were  we, 
one  and  another  of  us  upon  this  Account,  crying  out  with  the  Pro- 
phet, Wo  is  me>  for  Lam  as  when  they  have  gathered  the  Summer 
Fruits^  dec  ?  Did  we  constantly  make  it  f.he  Matter  of  our  mod  bit- 
ter Lamentation  before  God,  or  was  it  the  Subject  of  our  Complaint 
one  to  another  ?  No  -,  when  we  met  together,  our  Con.verfation  too 
generally  turn'd  upon  Pointe  of  a  lovver  Nature.  Religious  Conference 
was  ib  much  laid  afide,  not  only  among  private  Chnjlians,  but  even 
among.  Miniflers  ;  that  it  could  not  always  be  eafily  introduced.  Our 
Jjfcciation  Meetings  had  not  always  that  Seriouinefs  in  them  that 
might  be  expected  from  Perfons  of  our  facred  Character :  Infomuch 
ihat  fome  have  fmce  told  me,  that  being  occafionally  prdent,  it  was 
Matter  of  Stumbling  to  them  to  fee  us  behave  as  if  we  had  nothing 
further  in  View  than  to  fmoke  and  eat  together,  to  tell  a  pk-afant 
otory^&nd  to  talk  of  the  common  and  ordinary  Affairs  of  Lite.  To 
be  fure,  if  our  Difcourfe  reach'd  to  Matters  of  Religion,  it  was  fel- 
dom  any  further  than  to  Externals  and  Circumfrantials.  You  and  I 
muft  own,  and  God  grant  we  may  make  fuitable  Reflections  upon  it, 
that  the  greatelt  and  weightieft  Matters  were  too  much  neglected  ; 
that  our  Time  was  not  fp  much  of  it  fpent  as  might  and  ought  to 
have  been  in  concerting  Meafures  how  to  advance  the  Kingdom  of 
that  dear  Redeemer,  to  whofe  fpecial  Service  we  were  folemnly  de- 
voted •,  and  how  to  fecure  the  Salvation  of  the  precious  Souls  we  had 
taken  under  our  Watch  and  Charge. 

Thefc  Hints  may  ferve  to  give  us  fome  Reprefentation  of  the  State 
of  Religion  as  it  was  in  the  Generality  of  the  Churches  in  this  Part  of 
the  Land,  and  as  far  as  I  am  able  to  judge,  in  moft  other  Parts  of  it, 
fome  Tears  ago.  And  were  thofe  fuch  glorious  and  happy  Days,  that 
you  fhouJd  fo  earneftly  wifh,  as  fome  of  you  feem  to  do,  for  their 
Return  ? 

I  mud  confefs  that  they  don't  appear  to  me  in  that  Light.     But 
it  may  be  you  may  be  ready  to  fay  ;  '  Tho'  Things  were  bad  then, 

■  Jook  upon   them  and  fee  if  they  are  any  Thing  better  •,   nay,  whe- 

■  ther  all  Things  being  eonfidered,  they  are  not  lefs  defirable  now  ? ' 

Accordingly  I  come, 
2.     To  take  a  View  of  the  State  of  Religion  in  thefe  Churches 
fmce  the  Time  I  was  before  fpeaking  of. 

The 


C     7    ) 

The  Reports  that  were  br6ught  among  us  of  Mr.  Whiicfield  and 
his  Miniftry  ;  of  the  Multitude  that  attended  it,  and  the  Manner  in 
which  they  were  wrought  upon  by  it,  had  excited  a  Thoughtfulnefs 
in  a  great  many,  even  before  his  Arrival  among  us  :  And  when  he 
came,  you  are  lenfible  what  Crowds  came  to  hear  him,  and  how  ge- 
nerally they  were  wrought  upon  by  his  Preaching.  As  it  made  faving 
Impreffions  upon  fome  •,  lb  where  it  failed  of  this,  it  raifed  in  a  great 
Number  a  deep  and  lairing  Concern  as  to  their  fpiritual  and  eternal 
Interests.  When  Mr.  Tennent came  among  us,  this  Concern  increafed 
and  became  more  extenfive;  fo  it  continued  after  he  went  from  us. 
As  People  long'd  more  to  hear  ;  fo  Minijlers  lov'd  more  to  preach 
than  they  had  ufed  to  do,  and  uiually  fpoke  with  greater  Power. 
Some  cf  them  that  were  Strangers  to  true  and  vital  Piety  before,  be- 
came now  acquainted  with  it  •,  and  others  that  were  grown  in  a  great 
Meafure  dead  and  formal,  were  quicken'd,  ftir'd  up,  and  had  new 
Life  put  into  them.  Some  great  and  important  Doclrines  that  before, 
if  not  wholly  omitted,  were  but  gently  touch'd  •,  were  now  more 
largely  infilled  on,  more  clearly  unfolded,  and  more  warmly  prefs'd. 
Our  JJfemblies  were  vaftly  throng'd  ;  and  it  was  rare  to  fee  a  carelefs 
and  inattentive  Hearer  among  them  all.  Their  thirfty  Souls  feem'd 
greedily  to  drink  down  every  Word  that  drop'd  from  the  Preacher's 
Lips.  They  heard  as  for  their  Lives.  And  then  what  a  divine 
Power  accompanied  the  Word  from  one  Time  to  another  ?  What 
Numbers  are  <here  that  have  been  awaken'd  out  of  their  Security  in 
Sin  ;  that  have  feen  the  loft  and  perifhing  State  they  were  in  ;  that 
being  in  the  utmoft  Agony  and  Anguifh  of  Soul  from  the  Appre- 
henfions  of  divine  Wrath,  have  made  it  their  anxious  Inquiry  how, 
and  in  what  Way  toefcape  •,  and  that  have  been  applying  themfelvts 
to  their  Minifters,  and  others  for  Direction  in  this  great  and  weighty 
Affair  ?  And  tho'  fome  foon  loft  their  Convictions,  and  others  that 
went  a  great  Way,  have  fince  apoftatiz'd  and  drawn  back  ;  yet  upon 
a  ftrict  and  fair  Inquiry,  you  will  find  a  great  many  in  one  Place  and 
another  that  are  exhibiting  all  the  Evidence  that  can  be  expected  of 
an  effectual  and  thorough  Change-,  a  great  many  that  having  been 
f Mutinies  Darknefs,  but  being  noiv  Light  in  the  Lsrd,  walk  as  Children 
of  the  Light ;  and  by  their  good  Convedation  are  bright  and  Ihining 
Ornaments  to  their  Chriftian  Profellion. 

But 


C     8     ) 

Bat  now,  tho'  this  be  acknowledg'd,  and  tho*  as  far  as  has  been 
faid,  it  be  allow'd  that  a  very  glorious  and  delightful  Scene  is  open'd 
to  our  Vi*w  i  I  know  you  will  be  ready  to  object,  *  That  the  Bright- 
'  nefs  of  it  iseclipfed  and  obfcured  by  Reafon  of  the  Diforders  that 
'  have  occur'd.'  And  tho'  as  I  may  hereafter  have  Occafion  to  ob- 
ferve,  it  could  hardly  be  expected  we  fhould  be  perfectly  free  from 
every  Thing  of  this  Kind  •,  yet  I  heartily  , mourn  that  fo  much  of  it 
has  arofe.  Some  Miniflers  that  were  great  Friends  to  the  Revival  of 
Religion,  thro'  an  ungovern'd,  tho'  well  meant  Zeal,  have  been  car- 
ried into  unbecoming  Extreams  •,  and  whilfl:  they  have  been  much 
admir'd  and  almoft  idoliz'd  by  the  People,  have  been  left  (and  partly 
it  may  be  for  that  Reafonj  to  fall  into  great  Indifcretions.  And  fo  . 
it  has  been  as  to  fome  others,  and  I  make  no  Doubt  as  to  fome  graci- 
ous Perfons  -,  they  have  run  into  Errors  of  Judgment,  and  Errors  of 
Practice.  Some  have  ftrangely  given  Way  to  fpiritual,  Pride ;  they 
have  difcover'd  too  much  of  a  cenforious  Spirit  one  towards  another  ; 
have  been  rafb,  and  uncharitable  in  judging  the  Minilters  of  Christ, 
and  too  ready  to  feparate  from  them.  I  have  heard  of  mournful  In- 
ftances  of  this  Nature  in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut :  and  we  have  had 
too  many  Examples,  of  it  in  thefe  Provinces.  Some  have  feparated 
for.  no  Caufe,  and  others  upon  too  (lender  Grounds.  Tho'  as  to  fome 
that  have  withdrawn  from  the  Communion  to  which  they  have  be- 
Jong'd  •,  I  have  fometirnes  thought,  that  if  many  of  thofe^that  make 
a  great  Noife  about  Separations  and  other  Diforders,  had  been  treated 
juft  in  the  fame  Manner,  they  would  have  left  their  Minilters  long 
ago.  For  you  know  this  dividing  Spirit  is  not  confin'd  to  thofe  that 
are.  Friends  to  what  we  efteem  as  a  remarkable  Work  of  God's  Grace 
that  has  been  going  on  among  us.  No  -,  thofe  that  have  been  difaf- 
fected  jo  this  W7ork  have,  in  fundry  Inftances,  withdrawn  from  their 
Minilters,  for  their  firm  and  confcientious  Attachment  to  it  •,.  and 
where  they  have  fet  up  a  feparate  Congregation,  if  I  have  been  rightly  ■■ 
inform'd,  have  been  encourag'd  and  afiiited  in  "t  by  fuch  as  have  made 
the.  loudeit  Complaints  of  the  like  Difpofition  in  others.  Thus  I  have 
taken  a  fhort  View  of  the  State rof  Religion  as  it  was  in  thefe  Churches 
fome  Xears  ago,  and  as  it  has  been  fince.  , 

And  now  Brethren,  let  us   weigh   Things  maturely   in  our  own 
Minds  ;  and   confider  whether  the   latter  State,  tho'  attended  with 
fome.  difa&reable  Circumftances,  be  not  really,  taking  all  Things  to- 
gether, 


(    9    ) 

gether,  more  defirable  than  the  former?  How  many  diforder'f 
Things  does  the  Apoftie  Paul  complain  of  in  the  Church  of  Corinth, 
where  the  Preaching  of  the  Gofpel  had  been  accompanied  with  a  re- 
markable ErTufion  of  the  Holy  Spirit?  He  tells  them  of  Envying, 
and  Strife,  and  Divifions,  that  were  among  them,  which  was  a  Sign  of 
their  being  too  carnal :  One  faid,  I  am  of  Paul,  another  I  am  of  Apol- 
los.  They  were  too  apt  to  magnify  and  adore  one  Minifter,  and  to 
debafe  and  defpife  another.  But  notwithstanding  all  this,  fo  far  is  the 
Apoftie  from  thinking  they  had  better  continued  in  their  former  State, 
•hat  he  could  not  forbear  admiring  and  gratefully  acknowledging  the 
Riches  of  divine  Grace  that  had  been  difplay'd  among  them.  Ithank 
my  God,  fays  he,  always  en  year  Behalf,  for  the  Grace  cf  God  that  was 
given  you  by  J e fus  Chrift.  In  the  late  Times,  amidftali  the  Diforders 
that  have  arofe,  there  has  been  a  deep  and  fenous  Concern  among 
great  Numbers  as  to  the  Salvation  of  their  Souls.  Not  a  few  v.->- 
have  good  Reafon  to  think  have  been  refcued  from  the  Powers  cf 
Dar£nefs,and  become  the  Subjects  of  the  Redeemer's  Kingdom. 
Now  does  not  this  which  has  occafion'd  fo  much  Joy  in  Heaven,  and 
di fi\i fed  fuca  a  Pieafure  thro'  the  whole  angelic  Molls,  call  for  Re- 
joicing from  us  here  upon  Earth,  and  demand  our  cheaiful  Pra:fes  ro 
the  GOD  of  ail  Grace  ?  Is  not  iuch  a  State  as  this  preferable  to  that 
we  were  formerly  in  ?  when  it  was  a  rare  Thing  for  any  to  be  con- 
verted from  the  Error  of  their  Wav,  and  effectually  brought  heme 
to  God  •,  when  the  Generality  of  thole  that  were  hot  openly  vicious, 
were  funk  into  a  dead,  hfejefs  and  formal  State  •,  when  they  were,  the 
moftof  them  it  is  to  be  fear'd,  telling  in  their  Attendance  upon  Or- 
dinances, and  in  an  external  Conformity  to  the  divine  Y  I  it 
may  be  too  many  without  a  juft  Senfe  and  Apprehenfion  of  there  be- 
ing any  Thing  more  requir'd  in  order  to  their  Acceptance  with  God. 
Now  if  it  be  really  fo,  as  I  conceive  it  to  be,  that  the  Alteration 
there  has  been  as  to  the  State  of  Religion  in  thefe  Churches,  all 
Things-  being  confider'd,  be  for  the  better  and  not  for  the  worie  -, 
and  if  Mr.  Whitefeld  has  had  any  Hand  in  the  Change  which  you 
feern  to  acknowledge,  and  I  readily  allow  ;  I  think  he  ought  to  be 
^•ghly  valued  and  regarded  by  us  ;  that  it  becomes  us  to  be  vrry 
ihankful  to  him,  but  above  all  to  give  Glory  to  God,  that  has  raited 
up  fuch  an  Inftrumcnt,  and  made  him  the  Means  of  fo  much  Good 
to  us, 

C  [2  ]  iu: 


C     10    ) 

[2.]  But  then  there  is  a  fecond  Thing  wherein  I  am  oblig'd  to 
differ  from  you,  and  that  is,  as  to  Mr.  Wbitefield\  being  the  blameable 
Caufe  of  all  the  Diforders  that  have  arifen  among  us. 

This  is  what  you  all  manifeftly  fuggeft,  and  fome  of  you  plainly 
declare.  But  it  is  what  I  can't  at  prefent  be  brought  to  allow,  for  the 
following  Reafons,  (1 .)  I  fuppofe  it  is  not  at  all  likely  that  fuch  an 
Alteration  fhould  be  brought  to  pais,  and  there  be  any  remarkable 
Change  for  the  better  without  fome  fuch  Diforders  as  have  arifen  among 
us,  or  others  of  the  like  Nature,  from  the  common  and  ordinary 
Courfe  of  Things.  (2.)  1  think  I  can  difcern  feveral  o<lher  Caufe s  to 
which  they  are  at  Jeaft  partly  to  be  afcrib'd.  And  (3.)  I  can't  find 
That  in  Mr.  Wbitefield's  Conduct  which  can  polTibly  bring  him  under 
the  Charge  of  being  the  blameable  Caufe  of  all  thefe  Diforders. 

1.  I  fuppofe  it  not  at  all  likely  for  any  fuch  Alteration  to  be  bro't 
about  as  to  the  State  of  Religion  among  a  People,  and  there  be  any 
remarkable  Change  for  the  better,  without  fome  fucb  Diforders  as  thofe 
that  have  arifen  among  us,  or  others  of  a  like  Nature,  from  the  com- 
mon and  ordinary  Courfe  of  Things. 

Indeed  if  the  Change  was  univerfal,  there  would  be  a  more  hopeful 
Profpect  upon  this  Account.  Tho'  in  Cafe  it  was  fo,  ifa  whole  Peo- 
ple were  to  partake  of  the  faving  Influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and 
every  Individual  to  be  really  and  effectually  chang'd  ;  yet  unlefs  they 
were  without  any  Remains  of  indwelling  Sin  and  Corruption,  or  had 
arriv'd  to  fuch  a  Perfection  in  Knowledge  and  Hoiinefs  as  is  not  to 
be  expected  in  the  prefent  State  ;  it  is  not  likely,  tho*  they  were  of 
one  Heart,  they  would  be  all  of  one  Mind,  and  exactly  agree  in  their 
Sentiments  ;  but  even  in  this  Cafe  fome  Sort  of  Differences  and  Dif- 
orders might  arife.  What  then  is  to  be  expected  when  the  Change  is 
io  far  from  univerfal,  that  it  does  not  extend  to  the  bigger  Part? 

1c  would  be  flrange,  all  Things  confiderefl,  if  the  principal  Inftru- 
ments  and  Agents  in  carrying  on  fuch  a  Work,  did  notfometimes  flep 
out  of  theWay,  and  behave  fomewhat  amifs,beingMen  of  like  Paffions: 
And  it  would  be  as  flrange,  if  the  Subjecls  of  it  were  not  in  fome  In- 
flances  mifled  and  betray'd  into  fome  Irregularities,  or  other,  thro'  the 
remaining  Lujls  and  Corruptions  of  their  own  Hearts.  But  then 
befides  this,  Satan  feeing  his  Kingdom  at  fuch  a  Time  making,  and 
finding  it  dimi.nifh'd,  to  be  Hire  will  be  fadly  enrag'd,  and  will  not  fail 
to  flir  up  all  Manner  of  Diforders,    as  far  as  he  is  permitted.      And 

wicked 


(  I«  I 

wicked  Men  having  many,  if  not  the  moft  of  them,  their  carnal  Peace 
and  Reft  in  fome  Meafure  interrupted  and  difturb'd,  and  their  Cor- 
ruptions inflam'd  -,  will  be  apt  to  raife  a  mighty  Clamour  a  iainfl:  fuch 
a  Work,  and  ail  the  Promotes  of  it,  and  let  themfelves  all  they  can 
to  oppofe  its  Progrefs  •,  which  muft  needs  Occafion  more  or  left  of 
Difturbance.  Accordingly,  let  us  learch  the  /acred  Records,  or  con- 
iult  any  Church  Hijlory  whatfoever,  ancient  or  modern  -,  and  when 
fhall  we  find  there  was  any  confiderable  Reformation  among  a  People, 
or  any  remarkable  Revival  of  Religion  quite  free  from  Diforders. 
'J'hat  it  fhould  be  fo,  is  hardly  pojjikle  in  the  Nature  of  theThing,  and 
what  none  can  reafonably  expect. 
And  then, 
2.  I  think  there  are  other  Caufes  to  be  difcern'd  befides  Mr.  White- 
field's  coming  among  us,  to  which,  the  Diforders  that  have  arifen,may 
in  a  great  Meafure  be  afcrib'd.  There  have  been  Indifcretion*  and 
Miftakes  as  was  before  faid,  even  in  well  difpos'd  Perfons,  Minijlers, 
and  others,  from  whence  fome  of  thefe  Irregularities,  may  have  had 
their  Rife  :  But  this  does  not  throw  the  Fault  of  them  upon  Mr. 
White  field.  Nay  fuppofing  they  were  owing  to  the  Conducl  of  the  Iti- 
nerant Preachers  that  have  fince  been  among  us  ;  fuppofing  they  were 
all  bad  Men,  and  purpofely  cariwing  on  an  ill  Defign  •,  f  which  by  the 
Way  is  very  foreign  from  my  Thoughts :)  But  I  fay,  fuppofing  it  was 
fo,  I  don't  fee  how  Mr.  Whitefield  is  any  more  chargeable  with  what 
they  have  done,  than  the  real  Apojiles  of  our  Lord  were  to  be  faulted 
for  thofe  Deceivers  that  afterwards  arofe,  and  faid  they  were  A  potties 
and  were  not,  but  were  Liars  •,  or  than  they  by  their  working  of  true 
Miracles,  became  frhe  blameable  Cau/e  of  Simon  %  Sorceries,  and  made 
themfelves  guilty  of  the  Impolitions  occafion'd  by  his  Signs,  and  lying 
Wonders.  And  then,  befides  the  Mifchief  that  has  arifen  from  the 
Mifconduct  of  real  and  pretended  Friends  of  the  remarkable  Work 
of  God's  Grace  that  has  been  geing  on  among  us  ;  it's  eafy  to  fee 
how  much  Confufion  has  been  occafion'd  by  thofe  that  have  rafhJy 
and  warmly  fet  themfelves  againjl  it.  Yea,  its  poflfible,  that  fome  that 
have  made  the  loudeft  Outcries  againft  Diforders,  may  be  among  the 
principal  Caufes  of  them.  And  here  Brethren,  I  hope  you'l  excufe 
my  Freedom  in  propofing  it,  as  a  Matter  of  your  Enquiry,  Whether 
or  no,  you  your  felves  have  none  of  you  been  inlenfibly  Faulty  upon 
this  Account  ;  whether  you  have  none  of  you  by  your  own  Conducl, 

or 


(       fc       ) 

or  by  the  Influence  which  your  Advice  has  had  upon  others,  been  in- 
ftrumental  of  the  Differences  and  Confufions  that  are  fo  much  the 
Subject  of   Complaint  ?     But  I  difmifs  this  Head,  and  come  to  fay 

3.  That  I  can't  find  That  in  Mr.  WhitefuW  s  Conduct,  which  can 
poifibly  bring  him  under  the  Charge  of  being  the  blameabU  Caufe  of 
all  theie  Diforders. 

I  don't  fay,  that  he  has  never  been  ram,  and  that  he  has  been  free 
from  allManner  of  Imperfections  :  tho'  I  think,if  hislmperfections  had 
been  Id's, his  many  fhiningExcellencies  &  Endowments  might  have  too 
far  attracted  and  fix'd  our  admiring  Eyes  j  and  as  fbme  may  be  apt 
to  pay  him  undue  Honours  now,  the  Danger  then  would  have  been 
greater  and  more  extenfive.  But  fuppofing  we  don't  fee  his  Foibles 
in  the  fame  Light,  but  that  they  appear  greater  in  your  Eyes,  than 
they  do  in  mine,  they  raiuft  be  ftrangely  magnified  to  make  him  the 
faulty  Caufe  of  all  our  Diforders. 

IS  any  Part  of  his  Conducl  be  thought  to  difcover  any  Tincture  of 
Enthufiaftn,  which  has  been  common  with  fome  of  the  moft  eminent 
and  celebrated  Servants  of  Christ  :  1  cant  think  that  his  Preaching 
can  be  faid  to  lay  a  Foundation  for  it,  in  which  he  always  infills  on 
the  written  Word,  and  not  any  fudden  Impreflions  made  upon 
our  Minds,  as  being  the  Rule  of  our  Behaviour.  Nor  do  I  conceive 
there  is  fuch  a  Spread  and  Prevalency  of  this  Error,  as  fome  have 
been  apt  to  imagine.  Some  there  are  I  make  no  Doubt  that  are  too 
much  govern'd  by  lmpulfes  :  But  I  believe  it's  much  more  common 
for  Perfons  (tho'  it  be  a  Thing  allow'd  by  all  ferious  Chriftians,  that 
the  Holy  Ghost  is  from  Time  to  Time  (lining  us  up  to  that  which 
is  goodj  to  take  too  little  Notice  of  what  he  fecretly  fuggefts  to  them  •, 
and  by  far  the  greater  Number,  if  they  don't  ridicule,  it's  to  be  fear'd 
in  a  great  Meafure  flight,  neglect,  and  overlook  the  Motions  of  the 
blessed  Spirit,  and  are  fo  far  from  Enthufiafm  that  they  are  faulty 
upon  the  other  Extream. 

And  then  as  to  the  AnUmmian  Errors,  and  other  dangerous  Doc- 
trines complain'd  of;  I  never  perceiv'd  or  heard  of  any  Thing  in  his 
Sermons  or  Converfation,  when  formerly  among  us,  that  had  any  direct 
Tendency  to  promote  them.  There  are  I  fuppofe  none  of  us  but  are 
liable  to  Slips,  .and  may  let  drop  unguarded  Expreflions  ;  and  when 
we  are  cautioning  our  Hearers  again  ft  one  Extream,  are  apt  to  fay 
fome  Things  that,  are  liable  to  be  abuftdas  countenancing  the  con- 
trary . 


(     13     ) 

trary  :  And  if  we  had  all  been  as  curiouQy  and  critically  watch'd  as 
Mr.  Wbitefield  has  been  ;  we  mould  fome  of  us,  I  fear,  have  come  off 
but  poorly,  and  who  of  us  would  have  efcap'd  fo  well  ?  But  I'm  pcr- 
fwaded  you'll  find  it  a  difficult  Tafk  from  any  Thing  he  has  faid,  to 
fix  upon  him  theCharge  of  being  theAflfertor  andEncourager  of  thefc, 
or  any  other  falfe,  and  heretical  Doctrines. 

And  then  as  to  our  Separations  which  are  fo  confidently  afcrib'd  to 
him  ;  tho'  if  I  remember  right,  there  was  not  an  Infiance  of  one  of 
them  /;'//  more  than  a  Tear  after  he  went  from  us  :  upnn  the  moil  fair 
and  impartial  View  I  am  able  to  take,  I  can't  look  upon  him  as  their 
defign'd  Author,  or  as  being  upon  any  Account  the  main  Spring  and 
Origen  of  them.  What  looks  the  moft  plaufibly  this  Way,  and  what 
1  am  fenfible  you  are  at  once  ready  to  alledge  is,  what  he  has  faid  of 
the  Minijiers  and  Colleges.  But  I  very  much  qutftion,  whether  this 
has  had  fo  pernicious  an  Effect  as  fome  have  conceiv'd.  I  am  not 
pleading  for  the'Thing  in  it  /elf.  I  own  it  to  be  rafh  and  unwarrantable, 
and  he  himfelf  has  publickly-  acknowledg'd  it  to  be  fo.  Bjt  I  am 
fpeaking  of  the  Confcquence  of  it  ;  and  queftion  whether  it  has  been  fo 
formidable  as  fome  have  been  ready  to  apprehend,  and  can't  think 
of  our  Separations  as  proceeding  from  ir.  If  he  has  exprefs'd  his 
Fears  refpecting  the  good  State  of  the  greater  Part  of  the  Mini/try 
among  us  •,  he  has  not  pointed  out  any  particular  Perfbns  as  the  Ob- 
jedt  of  his  Fears,  nor  call'd  upon  any  to  withdraw  from  them  upon 
this  Account.  And  granting  that  his  thus  exprefllng  his  Fears  be 
without  juft  Grounds,  and  that  it  may  be  hurtful  upon  fomeAccounts ; 
may  it  not  have  been  ferviceable  upon  otheis  ?  And  is  it  not  likely 
that  he  might  intend  it  for  Good  ?  Tho',  if  it  was  fo,  I  don't  lay 
that  his  good  Intention  in  the  Thing  is  in  it  felf  a  fufTicient  Vindica- 
tion of  it.  But  let  it  be  how  it  will,  ought  we  not  in  this  Cafe  to 
Jook  beyond  the  Inftrument,  and  to  have  an  Eye  to  the  sitream 
Director  ?  Did  David obfervc  the  Hand  of  God,  in  the  Revilings 
of  a  wicked  Shimei ;  and  fhall  we  take  no  Notice  of  it,  in  fuch  an 
Animadverfion  in  one  whom,  if  we  will  lay  afide  Prejudice,  we  mud 
needs  account  as  one  of  his  faithful  Servants  ?  Methinks  we  in  the 
Miniftry  fhould,  one  and  another  of  us,  upon  thisOccafion  ref.ect  and 
fay,  *  It  is  not  for  nothing,  but  is  for  fome  wife  and  good  Purpofc, 
'  that  this  our  Brother  has  been  permitted  to  make  this  Remark  ; 
•  may  I  not  look  upon  it  as  a  Call  to  me  to  take   Heed  to  myfclf, 

D  and 


(      14      ) 

f  and  to  look  narrowly  into  my  own  Heart?     Accordingly  I  amre- 

*  folved  to  examine  my  felf,   and  to  enquire  more   clofely   than  ever 

*  into  my  own  State.5  Inftead  of  being  fill'd  with  Wrath  and  Bit- 
ternefs  againft  the  Injirumenty  which  feems  to  be  the  Cafe  with  too 
many,  and  may  be  likely  to  prevent  their  looking  any  further  •,  fuch 
Reflections  as  thefe  appear  to  be  proper  and  becoming  :  And  1  am 
well  affur'd  .that  this  is  the  Ufe  that  fome  have  made  of  it,  and  that  it 
has  been  over-ruled  for  their  Advantage.  And  now  fhould  not  this 
Confideration  in  fome  Meafure  moderate  our  Refentment  of  the  iup- 
pufed  Injury,  and  make  us  the  more  ready  to  pafs  it  by  ?  Jofeph 
feems  to  be  of  <his  Mind  with  Refpect  to  his  Brethren,  when  they  afk 
his  Forgivenefs  of  the  Wrong  they  had  done  him  :  He  fpeaks  of  it 
as  that  which  mould  induce  him  the  more  freely  and  readily  to  grant 
their  Requeft,  that  tho'  they  thought  Evil  againjl  him,  God  meant  it 
unto  Good.  And  how  much  more  fhould  it  be  fo  in  this  Cafe,  when 
both  God  and  Man,  as  we  trull,  meant,  it  not  for  Evil,  but  for 
Good. 

I  may  fay  much  the  fame,  as  to  what  is  faid  of  the  College.  Mr. 
White  field  feems  to  lament  that  the  Students  there  have  had  fuch  a 
corrupt  Tafte  as  to  the  Authors  that  have  been  in  the  greatefl  Repute, 
and  mo  ft  read  among  them.  And  I  fuppofe  you  have  heard  fome  fe- 
riousDi vines  among  our  felves  often  lament  the  fame  :  I'm  lure  lhave, 
tho'  I  was  not  always  exactly  of  the  fame  Ser  timerts  as  to  their  being 
fo  much  Caufe  of  Lamentation  upon  thatAccount.  Fie  further  feems 
to  lament  that  there  was  not  moreCare  taken  of  theYouth  as  toThings 
of  afpiritaal  Nature  ;  and  that  they  were  not  more  ferioufly  and  clofely 
applied  to  upon  that  Account.  I  have  heard  a  venerable  Dottor  now 
with  God,  make  the  fame  Complaint  with  Refpect  to  the  College 
fome  Years  as;o  :  And  feveral  that  have  fince  come  from  thence  have 
told  me  with  a  good  deal  of  feeming  Concern,  that  they  [never  had  a 
Word  faid  to  them  there,  upon  any  Thing  of  this  Nature.  Now  as 
much  as  I  value  fome  of  the  Gentlemen  of  the  College,  I  don't  think 
it  -is  fo  grofs  an  Affront  to  imagine,  they  might  in  fome  Refpecls 
have  dilcharg'd  their  Truft  better,  and  that  it's  a  Thing  impoflible 
that  any  Manner  of  Blame  fhould  belong  to  them.  If  Mr.  fVhitefield's 
Informers  and  the  other  young  Gentlemen  have  glvenafalfe  Report, 
they  are?  worthy  of  Blame.  If  what  they  have  faid  be  true,  it's 
<    her  ncedkte,  or  a  Thing  of  but  little  Confequence,  for  the  Youth 

there, 


(      *5     ) 

there,  tho'  they  are  many  of  them  likely  to  have  the  Care  of  other-.; 
Souls,  to  be  ferioufly  and  frequently  difcourled  with  concerning  th<\r 
own,  and  for  any  great  Care  to  be  taken  that  they  *nay  themieivc-  I w 
the  early  Subjects  of  a  real  Change  •,  or  elie  thole  that  have  had  die 
Charge  of  them  are  not  altogether  free  from  Fault:  and  as  I  can'c 
think  them  above  Admonition,  it's  Pity  that  any  Circumfrance  re- 
fpeding  the  Perfon  that  gives  it,  or  the  Manner  in  which  it's  given, 
mould  To  far  raife  their  Anger  as  to  deprive  them  of  the  Benefit  of  it. 
I  am  truly  forry  to  fee  it  meeting  with  fo  warm  a  Refentment  from 
them,  and  to  find  fuch  a  Handle  made  of  it  by  fo  many  of  my 
Brethren. 

It  might  be  look'd  upon  by  fome  as  rafh  and  unwarrantable  in  Dr. 
Burnet,  and  as  bearing  too  hard  upon  the  €lergy  of  bis  own  Church, 
and  even  upon  the  Seats  of  Learning,  publickly  to  fay  as  he  does  in 
his  Preface  to  his  Pajhral  Care,  *  That  the  much  greater  Part  of 
'  thole  that  came  to  be  ordain 'd,  are  ignorant  to  a  Degree  not  to  be 
4  apprehended  by  thofe  who  are  not  oblig'd  to  know.  The  eafieft 
'  Part  of  Knowledge,  fays  he,  is  that  to  which  they  are  the  greatelt 

*  Strangers  •,   I  mean  the  plaineft  Parts  of  Scripture,  which  they  fay 

*  in  Excufe  of  their  Ignorance,  that  their  Tutors  in  the  Univerfines 
'  never  mention  the  Reading  of  to  them  •,  fo  that  they*  can  give  r.o 
'  Account,  or  at  leaft  a  very  imperfect  one  of  the  Contents  even  of 
'  the  Gofpel.'  This  he  fays,  and  a  g1-eat  deal  more  to  the  likarP'iir- 
poie.  But  I  never  heard  that  it  enrag'd  the  ferious  Part  of  tbeClergy  ; 
and  I  don't  believe  they  would  any  of  them  have  bar'd  their  Pulpits 
againft  him,  had  they  the  Power  to  do  it. 

Thus  Brethren,  I  have  confider'd  you  as  going  upon  the  Suppofni- 
oiv  that  Mr.  Whitefidd  has  been  heretofore  the  Inftrument  of  a  gieat 
deal  of  Mifchief  to  the  Churches  of  this  Land  ;  and  have  g;ven  you 
the  Realons  of  my  Diffent  from  you  upon  that  Head. 

And  then, 
II.  You  fuppofe  there  is  a  Profpect  of  yet  further  Mifchief  fliould 
he  be,  indulg'd  the  Liberty  of  preaching  to  the  People  of  yourCharge, 
and  are  therefore  determin'd  not  to  admit  him  into  your  Pulpits. 

But  not  having  Penetration  enough  to  difcern  any  juft  Grounds  for* 
fuch  a  Suppofition,  I  mult  here  alio  take  Le^v^  to  be  of  a  different 
Opinion. 

As 


(  16  ) 

As  For  Itinera  it  Preaching  in  general,  enough  I  think  has  been  faid 
upon  it.  1  fbalJ  only  add,  that  I  have  been  fomething  furprized  to 
find  fome  Men  in  Reputation  for  Senfe  and  Learning  talking  of  it  as 
they  have  done,  as  a  Thing  not  now  to  be  tolerated  where  there  are 
ftated  Minifters,  even  fuppofmg  no  particular  and  exprefs  Direction  to 
be  given  for  it  in  Scripture.  It's  often  pleaded,  and  I  believe  pretty 
generally  granted,  that  there  is  no  fuch  exact  Model  of  Difcipline  and 
Management  laid  down  in  the  Word  of  God,  to  be  obferv'd  by  the 
Church  of  Christ  in  all  the  Ages  of  it,  but  that  there  are  fome 
Things  left  to  humane  Prudence  as  the  Circumftance  of  Time  and 
Place  may  require.  Accordingly  the  Church  of  England  feems  to  look 
upon  Itinerant  Preachers  as  proper  at  this  Day.  There  have  been 
Perfons  employ'd  under  that  Character,  and  call'd  by  that  Name  in 
thefe  Colonies  by  the  Society  for  the  Propogation  of  the  Gofpel ;  and 
I  have  feen  a  printed  Account  of  their  Preaching  from  Town  toTown. 
And  as  to  the  Objection  of  any  One's  taking  this  upon  himfelf ;  I 
believe  when  you  find  one  of  fo  much  Self-denial  to  itinerate  as  Mr. 
IVhitefield  does ;  one  fo  well  recommended  by  Men  of  Learning  and 
Piety  abroad  j  one  that  upon  taking  a  little  Pains,  you  may  fatisfy 
your  felves  has  his  Attainments  in  Knowledge  and  Grace  ;  one  that  is 
of  the  like  Faith  and  Converfation,  and  as  far  as  you  are  able  to  judge, 
has  fuch  a  flaming  Love  to  Christ,  and  deep  Concern  for  Souls  ; 
and  one  whom  God  has  fo  far  own'd  and  honour'd  with  fo  much 
Succefs  ;you  will  have  no  juft  Reafon  to  queftion  his  Call  or  Qualifi- 
cations. If  when  he  was  formerly  among  us,  he  was  upon  fome  Ac- 
counts ram,  all  Things  being  confider'd  we  need  not  wonder  at  it. 
But  he  has  now  had  further  Experience  and  Time  to  obferve  and 
correct  his  Mi  flakes.  And  what  juft  Apprehenfions  you  can  have  of 
Mifchief  to  your  felves  or  to  your  People  by  admitting  him  into  your 
Pulpits,  I  can't  eafily  conceive.  Does  he  preach  any  other  Doctrines 
than  were  preach'd  by  the  firji  Reformers,  and  by  our  pious  Prede- 
cejjors  •,  any  other  than  were  held  by  them,  and  are  held  by  us  to  be 
agreable  to  the  Form  of  found  Words  contain'd  in  the  Scriptures,  and 
to  the  Faith  once  deliver'd  to  the  Saints  ?  If  any  of  you  preach  dif- 
ferent Doctrines,  I  don't  wonder  that  you  are  fomething  fearful  of  re- 
ceiving him  into  your  Pulpits.     In  this  Cafe  it  may  be  hurtful  to'you 

at  preient,  tho'  even  then  it  might  be  of  eminent  Service  to  you  and 
your  People  in  the  End.     But  I  take  it  for  granted  that  it's  othcrwife 

with 


(     '7     ) 

With  the  moft,  if  not  all  of  you  :  And   if  you   are  Preachers  of  the 
fame  Doctrines,  what  Apprehenfions  can   you   have  of  Danger  from 
him  ?     If  we  mould  feel  ourfeJves  unduly  mov'd,  and   find  our  Cor- 
ruptions rais'd  at  his  fuperiour  Fame,  and  the  great  Applaufe  he  meets 
with  among  our  People,  it  may  ferve  to  fhew   us   the  Wickednefs  of 
our  own  Hearts.     However  angry   we  may  be   at  any  one's  having 
the  Epithet  of  Half  Devil,  we  may  from  thence  fee  that  we  have  too 
much  of  the  Temper  of  the  wicked  One,   and    mould  endeavour  to 
check  and  fupprels  that  Spirit   that  lujietb  to  Envy.     Has  that  great 
Head  of  the  Church,  who  ads  his  own  Sovereignty  in  bellowing  his 
Gifts,  furnifh'd  this  Servant  of  his  with  lbme  diitinguifhing  Endow- 
ments, fhall  we  diiown  them,  or  go  about  to  If  Hen  them  ?     No  ;  oh 
the  contrary,  let  us  be  willing  to  fee,  ard  ready  to  acknowledge  them 
to  the  Glory  of  the  free  and  bountiful  Beflov.er  of  them,  and  d»n*c 
let   oar   Eye  be   evil  becaufe  He  is  good,     if  We  faithfully  devote  our 
felves  to  our  Work,  we  need  not  be   under   any  d'ftrefTing   Fears  of 
lofing  our  Efhem  among  our  People,  we  fhall  have  as  much  of  it  as 
will  be  beft.      And  I'm  fatisfied    that  your  admittirg  Mr.  Whiiffield 
into  your  Pulpits,  where  the  greater  Part  of  your  People  are  not  pre- 
judiced againlc  him,    will   tend  rather   to   increafc  than   diminifh  it. 
Your  Resolution  to  keep  him  out,  inftead   of  being   of  any  Service, 
will,  I  am  perfwaded,  be  of  hurtful   Tendency  as  to  what  I  am  now 
fpcakingof:   Efpecially   if  whilft  you   debar  him  your  Puhvts,  you 
are  ready  to  admit  almofl   any  others,  tho'  it  may  be  not  well  quali- 
fied upon   any  Account,  it  will  be  apt  to  raife   JcafoufieS  in  many  of 
your  Heareis,  and  to  lelTtn  your  Intereft  in   their  AfiVcl.cn  and  Re- 
gard.    And  as  there  can  be  no  jiift  Apprehenfion  of  Mifchiefto  ycur 
felves  by  encouraging  Mr.   lVkii:fic;d\   preaching   to  the   People  of 
your  Charge,  what  but  a  groundlefs   and  meerly  imaginary    ProfpecT: 
can  you  have  of  Mifchief  to  them  ?     There  br.s,  I  truft,  been  much 
Good  done  where  he  has  been  freely  admitted  ;  but    who  have  been 
hurt  by  his  Miniflry  ?     I  have  joyfully   and    thankfully  receiv'd  him 
into  my  Pulpit  as  often  as  there  has  been    Opportunity  for  it ;  and  I 
hope  many  of  the  dear  People  with  whom   1  am   more  immediately 
concern'd,  will  have  Caufe  of  bleffing  Gon  eternally  on  his  Account: 
But  I  am  not  confeious  of  any  Mifchief  that  has   accrued    from  his 
Preaching.     Thro'  the  unmerited  Favour  of  Heaven  we  are  as  free 
from   Confufibns,  and  enjoy  as  much   Peace   as  any  Congregation  I 

E  kr.o* 


r  18  ) 

know  of.  So  far  is  he  from  giving  Countenance  to  Separations  or 
other  Diforders,  that  I  have  often  heard  him  bear  Teftimony  againft 
them.  And  I  allure  you,  if  I  had  been  in itru mental  of  preventing 
one  from  preaching  to  this  People,  whofe  Labours  God  had.  fo  re- 
markably blefs'd,  and  whom  he  had  made  initrumental  of  faving 
Good  to  fo  many  Souls,  I  mould  have  been  ftarful  whether  ]  had  not 
been  a  Means  of  obftructing  their  eternal  Interefts  ;  and  as  I  mould 
have  been  unable  to  have  anfwer'd  it  to  God  or  my  own  Confcience, 
I  mould  have  laid  a  Foundation  for  great  Unafinefs  and  Perplexity 
of  Mind. 

.  Thus  Brethren  I  have  confider'd  the  Suppofirion  you  have  gone 
upon  in  your  Conduct  with  Refpect  to  NirJVkiitfield^nd  have  (hewn 
you  why  it  does  not  appear  to  me  to  be  well  grounded. 

And  now  Bicthren,  tho'  thefe  Things  may  have  no  Weight 
at  all  with  you,  and  tho'  you  may  ftill  think  you  are  in  the 
Right  in  (hutting  out  of  your  Pulpits  this  zealous  Preacher  of  Chnit, 
and  his  pureGofpH  ;  give  me  Leave  to  ask  whether  you  are  able  upon 
a  cool  and  calm  Thought  of  Things  to  approve  of  the  Spirit  and 
.Temper  that  appears  in  what  fome  of  you  have  published  relating  to 
him  ;  and  whether  you  can  reflect  upon  it  with  any  real  Satisfaction  of 
Mind  ?  Is  it  fitting  to  fpeak  of  him  in  fo  angry  and  infulting  a  Way, 
and  to  let  your  Expreffions  favour  of  io  much  Wrath  and  Bitternefs  ? 
Is  this  a  true  Gofpel  Spirit?  Even  tho'  we  were  reviled,  would  it  be- 
come us  to  revile  again  ?  Did  our  Lord  and  Matter  do  thus  ?  No  ; 
he  has  left  us  a  Pattern  of  a  quite  contrary  Spirit,  and  it  peculiarly  be- 
comes hisMmifters  to  learn  of  him  who  was  meek  and  lowly  in  Heart. 
And  then  further, Is  thatSpirit  of  rafh Judging, that  difcovers  itfelf  in  fome 
of  your  Writings  a  Thing  that  will  admit  of  a  fair  and  eafy  Defence  ? 
You  are  fenfible  there  have  been  fad  Complaints  of  the  Prevalency  of 
fuch  aSpirit  of  late  ;  and  it  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  there  has  been 
any  Occafion  for  them.  You  don't  like  that  any  mould  take  upon 
them  to  know  and  judge  the  Hearts  of  others  ;  to  pronounce  them 
Pharifees,  and  to  fix  any  fuch  like  opprobrious  Characters  upon  them. 
And  I  allure  you  I  am  as  far  as  any  of  you  from  approving  the  Practice, 
and  yet  I  am  greatly  miflaken  if  you  are  not  fome  of  you  doing  the 
fame  Thing  with  Refpect  to  Mr.  IVhitefield.  You  exprefly  fpeak  of 
his  [antlimonious  Pretences  ;  you  charge  him  with  the  Oftentation  of  a 
proud,  Pbarif&e,  and  with  carrying  on  the  molt  wicked  and  hypocritical 

Defigns, 


(     '9     ) 

Defigns.  Now  is  this  ram  judging  a  Crime  in  itfelf,  and  what  you 
feverely  ceniure  in  others,  and  is  it  excufeable  in  you  ?  Have  not  one 
and  another  of  you  been  complaining  of  it  as  one  of  the  Diforders  of 
the  pefentTimes,  and  fpeaking  of  it  as  aFault  ?  How  then  can  I  for- 
bear faying,  Out  of  thine  own  Mouth  thou  art  condemned?  wherein  thou 
judgeji  another,  condemneji  thou  not  thy  fe If,  feeing  thou  that  judgeji  doji 
the  fame  Thing  ? 

And  then  it  feems  to  me,  and  fome  other  of  your  Brethren,  that  it 
would  have  been  as  well  if  fome  of  you  had  not  been  quite  fo  for- 
ward in  cenfuring  others  befides  Mr.  IVhitefidd.  Whillt  you  have 
been  charging  him  with  Want  of  Refpect  to  his  Superiours  in  Age, 
and  alio  in  Learning  aad  Grace  ;  have  not  fome  of  you,  that  are  but 
ycung,  fhewn  your  fclves  defective  upon  the  like  Account,  in  fpeak- 
ing fo  feverely  of  your  Fathers  that  have  countenanced  Mr  IVhitefield's 
preaching  among  us  ?  Elpecially  in  reprefenting  thofe  in  luch  .an 
odious  Light,  and  as  having  acted  fo  unbecoming  a  Part,  that  have 
afk'd  him  to  affift  in  the  Admimfirution  of  the  Sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  •,  which  muft  point  more  particularly  at  the  venerable 
Mr.  Chever.  of  Chelfea,  and  the  venerable  Dr.  Colman  of  Bolton? 
Methinks  that  ancient  Injunction  mould  have  been  iome  Check  to 
you,  Thou  JJjalt  rife  up  before  the  hoary  Head,  and  honour  the  Face  of 
the  old  Man  :  And  that  it  had  been  better  for  thole  of  you  that  are  fo 
much  their  Inferiours  in  Years,  and  it  may  be  upon  other  Accounts, 
to  have  tarried  a  little  ionger,  at  lead  to  have  waited  'till  you  had  fome 
Difcourfe  with  thofe  ancient  and  worthy  Divines,  and  heard  what  they 
had  to  fay  in  their  own  Defence,  before  you  had  thus  publickly  ani- 
madverted upon  them. 

But  after  all,  however  it  may  be  with  fome,  I  can't  but  hope  that 
many  of  you,  tho'  you  may  have  conceiv'd  a  Didike  to  fome  Part  of 
Mr.  lVhitcfield'%  Conduct,  and  don't  think  it  beft  to  call  him  in  to 
your  Alfiftance  in  your  Labours  ;  are  under  no  fuch  Prejudices,  but 
that  you  think  well  of  him  in  the  main,  and  account  him  a  faithful 
Servant  of  Jesus  Christ.  But  then  I'm  fure  if  it  be  fo,  and  you 
have  any  true  Love  for  the  Matter  whom  he  fei  ves  j  you  muft  needs 
be  in  fome  Meafure  affected  with  the  reftlefs  Rage  and  bitter  Enmity 
with  which  he  is  conftantly  purfued,  and  feel  fome  Reientings  of 
Heart  on  the  Account  of  the  cruel  and  hard  Ufage  he  from  Time  to 
Time  meets  with.     And  here  1  would  take  Leave  to  propoie  it  to 

you 


<       20      ) 

you  as  a  Thing  worthy  of  Confederation,  Whether  in  what  yon  have 
done,  you  have  not  help'd  to  ftrengthen  the  Hands  of  thofe  that  are 
Enemies  to  true  and  vital  Religion,  and  given  too  much  Countenance 
to  them  ?     For  whether  you  are  fenfible  of  it  or  no,  they  are  all  to  a 
Man  much  gratified  with  what  you   have   done.     I  would  not,  Bre- 
thren, be  underftood  as  exhibiting  lb  grofs  a  Charge  againfl  you,  as 
that  you  have  been  doing  this  by  Defign  ;  nor  would  I  be  thought  to 
include  all  that  approve  of  your  Conduct  among  the  Enemies  of  Re- 
ligion :  No  •,  I  make  no  Doubt  but  fome  of  its  Friends  and  Patrons, 
by  fome  Means  or  other,  may  be  led  into  fome  Sort  of  DifafFection  to 
Mr.  IVhitefield,  and  may  in  the  main  be  well  pleafed  with  your  Man- 
ner of  proceeding  againft  him.     But  I  am   fatisfied  it  is  grievous   to 
by  far  the  greater  Part  of  the  Generation  of  God's  Children  •,  and  as 
I  before  faid,  has  gain'd  you  the  univerfal  Approbation  of  Perfons  of 
a  contrary  Character.     I  dare  fay,  there  is  not  a  Deift,  an  Arian,  zSo- 
cinian,  &c.   that  there  is  not  a  profane  Per/cn,  a  Senfualijt,  or  any  im- 
moral Liver  in  the  whole  Country,   not  one  of  corrupt  Principles,  or 
diflblute  Manners,  but  what  has  a  much  higher  Efteem  of  you,   than 
before.     Perfons  of  thisCharacterare  loading  you  with  theirAppIaufes, 
and  think  they  can't  fay  too  much  in  your  Praife.     Much  Good  may 
it  do  you  ;  I  envy  you  not  the  Honour  of  their  Applaufe. 

I  have  omitted  faying  anyThing  to  fome  of  your  Objections  againrt 
Mr.  Whitifieldy  partly  becaufe  I  think  enough  has  been  faid  to  them 
by  others,  and  partly  for  Fear  of  extending  my  Letter  to  too  great  a 
Length. 

And  now,  Brethren,  if  I  have  in  any  Thing  exprefs'd  my  felf  in  an 
unbecoming  Manner,  and  fo  as  to  lay  my  felf  open  to  your  jufr.  Re- 
ientment,  as  I  have  not  done  it  fenfibly  and  Ly  De fign,  I  hope  1  fliall 
have  your  Excufe  :  And  as  what  has  been  written  is  well  meant,  I 
fhall  be  glad  if  it  be  well  receiv'd,  and  pray  that  the  Things  luggeiled 
may  meet  with  a  mature  Deliberation. 

Upon  the  whole,  If  you  can't  be  perfuaded  but  that  I  have  too 
high  an  Opinion  of  Mr.  Whitefidd,  and  queftion  whether  he  be  the 
Perfon  I  conceive  him  to  be  :  I  would  only  further  fay  to  you,  Come 
and  fee ',  converfe  with  him  freely  and  without  Prejudice,  as  I  trufl  that 
I  and  many  others  have  done  ;  and  1  make  no  Doubt  but  you'll  dif- 
cover  as  much  of  Christ  in  him  •,  that  you'll  fee  as  mining  a  Patterp 
of  Love  to  God  and  Man,  of  Meckncfs,  Humility  and  Self-denial  ; 

a 


(       21       ) 

a  Pattern  of  as  much  true  Zeal  for  the  promoting  of  that  Kingdom  of 
GOD,  which  is  not  Meat  and  Drink,  but  Righteoufnefs,  and  Peace,  and, 
'Joy  in  the  Holy  Ghojl -,  as  great  an  Example  of  Diligence,  and  a  care- 
ful redeeming  of  Time,  as  you  have  beheld  in  any  one  you  have  been 
acquainted  with. 

And  now  Brethren,  May  you  and  I  be  Followers  of  him  in  all 
Things  wherein  he  follows  Christ.  Particularly,  May  all  Buternefs, 
and  Wrath,  and  Anger,  and  Clamour,  and  Evil  fpeaking  be  put  away 
from  us,  with  all  Malice  :  May  we  be  kind  one  to  another,  tender  heart- 
ed, forgiving  one  another,  as  God  for  Christ'j  Sake  forgives  us. 

And  Oh  !  that  the  fweet  and  peaceable  Spirit  of  the  Gofpel  might 
univerfally  fpread  and  prevail  :  That  the  Time  may  come  when  the 
Wolf  Jhall  dwell  with  the  Lamb,  and  the  Leopard  fljall  lie  down  with 
the  Kid  ;  the  Calf,  the  young  Lion,  and  the  Fat  ling  together,  and  a  little 
Child  Jhall  lead  them  :  When  they  fid  all  not  hurt  or  deflroy  in  all  God'j 
holy  Mountain  ;  when  the  Earth  /ball  be  full  of  the  Knowledge  of  the 
Lord,  as  the  Waters  cover  the  Sea.  For  Zion'j  Sake  let  us  not  hold 
our  Peace,  and  for  Jerufalem'j  Sake  ht  us  not  rejt,  'till  we  perceive 
this  glorious  Day  to  dawn,  and  'till  the  Darknefs  and  Shadows  begin  to 
flee  away,         Wifhing  and  looking  for  ir, 

I  conclude  and  remain, 

Your  very  affectionate  Friend  and  Brother, 

Portfmouth,  May  3.  1745. 

William  Slmrtleff. 


wmmim 


To 


(       2Z       ) 


c5&:H&  cS&cSGb  d3&c§&  Stk&fo  SfeSfa ■$&&£>  &2i£tb  &&&&  &h$b  c3&  S<k 

C3g^  cgjp  <?g=cg£p  qiS><35>  <^S=^!§>  <%&<%&<%&'%§>  WW  <^W  WW  WTO 

-  "    .'3    tSfeeSfo  c8&-3Qj  cS&tSgi  c*&<S2>  sS&jMfeeSfe&ib  c§&b<S6>  £§&c3a>  eS&c§2>   ^2a^i 

w^s?  easjcss3  «2g=«aS»  ww  ww  www^e?  ^w  <^<3s?  ^w  ^jp^s 


?5»  <SgP 


A   P  P  E  N   D  I  3 

To  our  Rev,  Brethren  in  theMiniftry, 
who  refofe  the  Rev.  Mr.  White  field 
their  Pulpits. 

J?*v.  and  Beloved, 

WE  whofe  Names  are  underwritten,  being  at  the  Houfe  of  our 
dear  Brother,  the  Reverend  Mr.  IVilliam  Shurtleff,  at  Portf- 
mouth  •,  he  was  pleated  to  communicate  to  us  what  he  had  written, 
with  Refpedt  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Whilefield  :  And  we  do  readily 
embrace  this  Opportunity  of  teftifying  our  Satisfaction  therewith  ; 
and  heartily  with  that  what  he  has  judiciously  prepared  for  the  Prefs, 
and  is  hereby  likely  to  fall  into  your  Hands,  may  be  accompanied 
with  the  divine  Bleffing,  to  change  your  Thoughts  with  Refpect  to 
the  Reverend  Mr.  Wbitefield,  whofe  Praife  is  defervedly  in  many  of 
the  Churches  of  our  dear  Redeemer,  in  this  Land  ;  and  your  De- 
termination, which  we  think,  and  muft  be  fo  free  as  to  fay,  appears 
to  us  without  Foundation,  that  you  fliould  refufe  him  the  Liberty  of 
your  Pulpits.  We  cannot  but  exprefs  ourThankfuInefs  to  God,  who 
has  rais'd  up  Mr.  Whilefield^  and  evidently  owned  and  honoured  him 
with  fo  much  Succefs  in  preaching  the  everlafting  Gofpel  of  Jesus 
Christ  in  this  Land  ;  and  fo  gracioufly  conducted  him,  as  that  he 
can  in  our  Judgment,  by  no  Means  be  the  culpable  Caufe  of  any  Di- 
vifu  rn  or  Separations  that  have  prevailed  in  any  of  our  Churches. 
And  we  earnestly  defire,  that  fuch  of  our  reverend  and  dearBrethren, 
as  labour  under  any  Prejudices  with  Refpect  to  Mr.  Whilefield,  would 

take 


APPENDIX. 


23 


take  the  Opportunity  freely  to  converfe  with  him  :  In  fa  doing,  we 
doubt  not  but  Prejudices  would  be  removed,  he  would  be  wel- 
com'd  into  Pulpits,  and  probably  become  inftrumental  of  reviv- 
ing and  carrying  on  the  glorious  Work  of  God  in  your  refpective 
Charges  •,  which  would  be  further  Ground  of  Joy  and  Rejoycing  to 
us,  who  are  your  Brethren  and  Fellow  Labourers  in  the  Gofpel  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 

Jeremiah  Wife,  Pallor  of  the  Church  in  Berwick. 

John  Roger s^P^ov  of  the  fecondChurch  in  Kittery. 

James  Pike,  Paftor  of  the  Church  in  Somerfwortb. 

SamuelChandler,V&ft:QV  of  thz  fecondChurch  inTork, 


*£>*#; 


SB 


^9+** 

V^^^he^^V^^*     ^    JMJ 

SSMS9 

Mi™ 

Hr    '  *r               mo           "»■ 

hHB 

